Covance fined for animal abuse.

Our soon-to-be neighbor, Covance, finally receives the USDA's decision on a probe into possible animal abuse charges. The result is a minimal fine for what evidently was minor maltreatment of research animals and lack of compliance on other issues:

The USDA has fined drug-testing company Covance, which has plans to build in Chandler, after an investigation prompted by an animal rights group's allegations of animal abuse at the company's Vienna, Va., facility.

Covance says the citations were minor and that the offending employee, accused of mishandling lab monkeys, no longer works for the company.

Covance was fined $8,720 for 16 citations, three of which involved lab monkeys. The others concerned administrative issues and equipment.

...Covance has purchased 38 acres on Price Road north of Queen Creek Road in Chandler but has yet to ask the city for rezoning. If it builds a facility in Chandler, the USDA will conduct similar unannounced yearly inspections.

The build site would be just under two miles to the south of Folley Precinct.